The Future of Music Coalition (FMC), a national nonprofit advocacy group for musicians, has launched the Artist Revenue Streams (ARS) project, a multi-phase research effort that aims to document how today’s musician earns a living.

In the project’s first report, performance rights royalties have emerged as one of the most dependable, longest lasting sources of income for songwriters and composers. The findings independently emphasize the vital importance of BMI membership for creators, many of whom rely on BMI earnings their entire lives.

The ARS project will reveal more data gathered from a second test group in May 2012.